Witch Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials by Marc Aronson

(Young Adult) This is a well-researched piece of non-fiction written namely for adolescents, though I think the subject matter is a bit more appealing to adults. This book gave me a great deal of insight into the economic issues that fed into the witch hysteria. The fanaticism was largely based on a feud between the Putnams and the Porters - one a prospering merchant family, the other an envious family of struggling farmers. Also, the hysteria was largely fueled by women who seemed to struggle with Puritan ideals. America was on the verge of rationalist philosophy. All of these women were suffering in churches where they were not permitted to speak, and where they were forced to live up to an impossible standard of moral perfection. Most of the women accused of witchcraft were older women who owned property - women who could be viewed as more than wives, mothers and daughters. Their accusers were able to have the best of both worlds: they took the moral high ground by sniffing out evil in their town, while at the same time they were allowed to act out dramatically, speak in public, and generally call a great deal of attention to themselves. This book offers a multi-faceted view of American history and is a definite conversation piece. Favorite Quote: "The moral courage of the accused who could not lie was also a reflection of their Puritanism . . . some people had taken Puritan teachings into their hearts and minds. Conscience proved to be stronger than even a society dedicated to enforcing the dictates of faith . . . there was simply too much danger of using faith to destory innocent people."